How it all began. The Practice of Faith-Learning Integration A frantic phone call. A quick visit at my door. A conversation at lunch. An emailed question. “I’m showing the periodic table today, what biblical principles should I teach?” “Is there anything to say from a Christian perspective about The Giver which is on our … Read more
“The only way we can judge if someone’s feelings are hurt is if absolutes of right and wrong show why feelings shouldn’t be hurt.” See Campus Episodes (Part One) here. See Campus Episodes (Part Two) here. Episode 1 Academics We had just been discussing how various Christian groups share the gospel. My young friend expressed her … Read more
How do you “self identify”? See Campus Episodes (Part One) here. Episode #1 “Social media is an illusion where people try to control our image using people to value ourselves.” Our discussion was about why young people don’t feel like they are doing any good in their lives. Students, my young conversationalist contended, are depressed … Read more
“She kept dropping F-bombs throughout her talk.” Episode #1 My text notification chirped. She was writing from a classroom lecture. “I’m in a world language course. In our random reading this week we read the story of Adam and Eve. The professor told the class it was a myth that teaches women are useless, scapegoats … Read more
“That’s not the person I was talking about.” It was the greatest experience of my teaching life. I taught for over forty years in the poorest public schools in and around Indianapolis. My students came from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. I taught math. The most important aspect of education is relationship. Trust is … Read more
Paul’s letters to churches were “distance learning.” Biblical Basis for Seminary Traditionally, a seminary has been a place of study to train clergy, religious personnel, chaplains, or lay leaders. The word “seminary” comes from a Latin root meaning to plant a nursery, sow a seed bed, launch a breeding ground, or begin a process. The … Read more
The Marks of a Christian Teacher: A Vocational Description [1] The true function of the teacher is to create the most favorable conditions for self-learning. True teaching is not that which gives knowledge, but that which stimulates pupils to gain it. One might say that he teaches best who teaches least.[2] “I do not want you to … Read more
Marks of a Christian Scholar: A Vocational Description [1] “The Christian scholar-teacher must be a person who believes in Christian higher education, who is committed to the mission of his or her institution. It is not enough to hire faculty who happen to be Christians, even if they are fine scholars. We must find and … Read more
They were outnumbered, outgunned, and outmanned. There was no reasonable belief they could win. It was a stop-gap measure at best. What was at stake? Only the Hawaiian Islands and the west coast of The United States. This was the Battle of Midway, June, 1942. No military had ever won more territory in six … Read more
My one word definition of education: Ownership. This past week one of my classes and I were reviewing the year. I wanted to know their comments about the learning process. It was a great discussion lasting an hour and a half. “As much as it pains me to admit it,” one young man began his … Read more